MRS. BUSH: Thank you, Jenna, for that very sweet introduction.
One of the great things about having the girls on the campaign trail
with us is getting to hear them talk about how much they love us --
(laughter) -- and in public, no less. (Laughter.)

We've had a terrific day today in your state. We started off this
morning. We stopped first at Jack's Coffee House in New London, then
we had a terrific event in Lebanon, and then we went on to another -- a
W Stands for Women event was our next event at Hopkinton. Then we
stopped at Mack's Apple House -- (applause) -- and we bought our
pumpkins for the White House, which was terrific. (Applause.)

And now we're here, and I'm so glad to be here. This is a
wonderful state for a road trip and this was the perfect day for a road
trip. It was so great also to be able to see how beautiful New
Hampshire is in the fall.

Kitty Sununu has been showing of your state to me all day and I'm
so glad that she's here with me. Thank you, Kitty. (Applause.)

And a very special thanks also to my good friend Cindy McCain for
being here. (Applause.) A few years ago, Cindy and I were on
different buses -- (laughter) -- and their bus nearly knocked us off
the road. (Laughter.) But I'm so happy that Cindy and Senator McCain
are traveling with us now on the road to victory. (Applause.)

Thanks also to our beautiful Miss America, Erika Harold for joining
us. I don't know if you all know, but Erika is a law student at
Harvard now. (Applause.) And, of course, it's always terrific to be
with someone who has the same accent I do. Thank you very much, Angie,
very much for being with us. (Applause.)

And all of you heard how unbelievably moving Cheryl McGuiness is.
(Applause.) It's been terrific to spend the day with her. She has
such grace and such dignity and she lifts us up. And we really
appreciate that. Thank you very much, Cheryl. (Applause.)

Thanks also to Mayor Streeter and his wife Jan and daughter,
Stephanie, and to Paul Needham for welcoming us to New Hampshire to
talk about why it's so important to reelect President George W. Bush.
(Applause.)

George and I have loved visiting your state for years. Four years
ago, we spent a lot of time here. And as all of you know, the Bush
family has a summer home in neighboring Kennebunkport. A couple of
summers ago, we were visiting George's parents to celebrate the 4th of
July. George woke up at 6:00 a.m., early in the morning as usual, and
he padded downstairs for a cup of coffee. And then he went in his
parents' bedroom and he sat on the sofa and put his feet up.

And all of a sudden, Barbara Bush hollered, "Put your feet down."
(Laughter.) And George's dad said, "For Goodness sake, Barbara, he's
the President of the United States." (Laughter.) And Bar replied, "I
don't care, I don't want his feet on my coffee table." (Laughter.) So
you see, even Presidents have to listen to their mothers. (Laughter
and applause.)

George is a lot like his mother. My husband makes his views clear
and he stands on principle. And above all, when the President says
something, he means what he says and he does what he says. (Applause.)

When our economy needed a jumpstart, my husband said that he would
reduce taxes -- and he did. Millions of families and small business
owners are saving more of their own money because the President worked
to pass the largest tax relief in a generation. (Applause.) And
today, our economy is growing and it's getting stronger every day. And
in a new term, my husband will keep America on the road to prosperity
by working to make sure taxes are kept low. (Applause.)

Four years ago, my husband said we were going to reform education
in America, because too many children from our poorest schools were
being left behind. And he worked with Congress to do just that.
Today, the No Child Left Behind Act -- because of it, our schools are
improving with higher standards, higher accountability, and with the
most federal funding ever for elementary and secondary education.
(Applause.) We'll continue to make sure every child receives an
excellent education. And in a new term, my husband wants to make
career training and student financial aid more accessible so more
Americans can go to work to earn a college degree. (Applause.)

Four years ago, my husband said he would work with Congress to give
seniors relief from rising health costs and the rising cost of
prescription drugs -- and he did. Today, millions of seniors are
signing up for their prescription drug card. And in 2006 when the full
drug benefit begins, seniors will save even more. (Applause.)

And in a new term, the President will work to bring down the cost
of health care by reforming medical liability systems and reducing junk
lawsuits. (Applause.) When it comes to health care, to education, and
to strengthening our economy, George believes that government should
try to help people improve their lives, not try to run them.
(Applause.)

As President, my husband has me the toughest challenges with
courage. He believes that it's his duty, the responsibility of every
leader, to find solutions to problems, not pass them on to future
Presidents or future generations. And his first and most solemn duty
is to protect our country and to protect the people of the United
States. (Applause.)

The President has worked to defeat terror around the world.
President Bush and I want the men and women of the United States
military and their families to know how much every American appreciates
their service and their sacrifice. (Applause.)

We appreciate the service of courageous Americans like Staff
Sergeant Dion Ray Rowan and his wife, Jennifer, who is here today.
(Applause.) We appreciate the sacrifice of Grif Dalianis and of
military wives like Kelly Loring, who sang our National Anthem
earlier. Thank you all very, very much. (Applause.)

As long as my husband is Commander-in-Chief, our troops and our
first responders will have the support they need, and the United States
military will remain an all-volunteer military. (Applause.)

As we do the hard work of confronting terror, we can be proud that
today 50 million more men, women and children have the chance to live
in freedom, thanks to the United States of America and our allies.
(Applause.) Just two weeks ago, millions of Afghan citizens voted in
their first free presidential election in the history of their country.
And in a great display of how far Afghanistan has come, a 19-year-old
woman cast the very first ballot. (Applause.)

The people of Iraq are working to build their country, even as they
face violence from those who oppose democracy. Already an Iraqi
independent electoral commission is up and running, political parties
are planning campaigns, voter registration will begin next month -- and
free and fair elections will be held this coming January.

The future holds great promise and, though many difficult struggles
remain, the United States will be a constant friend to both nations.
(Applause.)

Americans know that building a democracy takes time. Think of how
long it took us in our country. It took almost 100 years after our
founders declared all men are created equal to abolish slavery -- and
not until 84 years ago did American women get the right to vote.
Building a democracy is not easy, but we know it's right. (Applause.)

This is a critical moment in our history. In just 12 days, voters
will face a choice between an America that is uncertain in the face of
danger or an America that takes decisive action to defeat terror and
spread liberty. Americans can choose a leader who understands the
threat that we face today. Families and business owners can choose a
President who wants to keep taxes low so people can keep more of their
own money. We can choose a President who wants a health care system
where patients and doctors are in charge, not the government.
(Applause.) And parents can choose a President who will keep us on the
path to excellence and high standards in our schools for every single
child.

The choice is clear. America needs the leadership of President
Bush for four more years. (Applause.)

AUDIENCE: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

MRS. BUSH: So, with less than two weeks left, I want to encourage
you when you leave here today, tell your neighbors about the
President's vision for making America better. Reach out to Democrats
and Independents who appreciate optimistic and strong leadership. Get
an absentee ballot if you'll be away from home on November 2nd. Then
make sure you vote, and turn out as many people as you can. Everything
you do will be a great help for the President's campaign.

These are times of change for our nation, but they're also years of
promise. George and I grew up in West Texas, where the sky seems
endless and so do the possibilities. My husband brings that optimism,
that sense of purpose, that certainty that a better day lies before us
to his job every day and, with your help, he'll do it for four more
years. (Applause.) May God bless you. May God bless America.
(Applause.)